fablenoun/ˈfeɪbəl/

• 1

  A fictitious narrative intended to enforce some useful truth or precept, usually with animals, etc. as characters; an apologue. Prototypically, Aesop's Fables.

• 2

  Any story told to excite wonder; common talk; the theme of talk.

  • But refuſe prophane and olde wiues fables, and exerciſe thy ſelfe rather vnto godlineſſe.
  • […]we grew / The fable of the city where we dwelt.
• 3

  Fiction; untruth; falsehood.

  • I say it would look like a fable to report that this gentleman gives away all which is the overplus of a great fortune by secret methods to other men.
• 4

  The plot, story, or connected series of events forming the subject of an epic or dramatic poem.

  • For the moral (as Bossu observes,) is the first business of the poet, as being the groundwork of his instruction. This being formed, he contrives such a design, or fable, as may be most suitable to the moral;

fableverb/ˈfeɪbəl/

• 1

  archaicTo compose fables; hence, to write or speak fiction; to write or utter what is not true.

  • He Fables not, I heare the enemie: / Out ſome light Horſemen, and peruſe their Wings.
  • Vain now the Tales which fab’ling Poets tell, / That wav’ring Conqueſt ſtill deſires to rove; / In Marlbrô’s Camp the Goddeſs knows to dwell: / Long as the Hero’s Life remains her Love.
• 2

  archaicTo make up; to devise, and speak of, as true or real; to tell of falsely; to recount in the form of a fable.

  • […] erre not that ſo ſhall end / The ſtrife of Glorie: which we mean to win, / Or turn this Heav’n itſelf into the Hell / Thou fableſt […]
  • THE Poets Fable, That Apollo being enamoured of Caſſandra, was by her many ſhifts and cunning ſlights ſtill deluded in his Deſire […]